Can-opening apparatus



' Much 1s, 1930.

D. P. sAwYl-:R 1,751,251

CAN OPENING APPARATUS lll ig. Fgl.

INVENTOR.

Duvd Sawyer BY IQM'Y- A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED sT'rs orFicl:

, DAVID P. sAwYER, E CLEVELAND, omo, AssIaNoR To ECONOMY PRODUCTSCoR'roRA- '.rIoN, or CLEVELAND, omo, A CORPORATION 0E oHIo t CAN-OPENINGAPPARATUS Application led February 14, 1925. Serial No. 9,123.

This invention, as indicated, relates to a can opening apparatus. Moreparticularly, it comprises a machine having a stationary cutter andmeans adapted to rotate a rim of the can about said cutter.

Can opening apparatus of the general character herein referred to hasbeen known heretofore, but 1n many such devices the con- The principalobject of the present inven-lV tion is to simplify the construction ofappa-` ratus of the character described and to pro- Y vide a devicewhich will be free of the disadvantages referred to. Anotherobject ofthe invention is to provide an apparatus having a minimum number ofparts and, `adapted to be readily assembled and maintained in accurateworking adjustment. Other objects of the inventionwill appear in thecourse of the following description. To the accomplishment of theforegoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the meanshereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms 'in which theprin' ciple ofthe invent-ion may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig.' 1 is a side elevation of an improvedapparatus embodying the principle of my invention shown as applied t0the edge of a support with the can in position thereunder; Fig. 2 isarear elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, as seen from theleft-handside; Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view through the head ofthe apparatus showing the parts'in retracted position; land Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in operative engagement withthe top edge of the can.

As is clearly shown in the drawing the apparatus comprises a standard 1,having in-l tegrally formed therewith a head block 2 which connects theupper ends of a bifurcated or yoke sectionv 3 formed on `said standard.The lower end of said standard is slidably engaged in the rearwardportion ofl the clamping plate 4, being held in adjusted positionthereto by means of a set screw 5 at the rearward edge of said clampingplate. clamping plate has an upper extension plate 6 of a size suitableto support the base of the can to be operated upon, and has an extensionarmv beneath lsaid extension Y plate, through which a clamping screw 8is adapted to operate and thereby secure the apparatus upon somesuitable point of support, such as a shelf or table edge.

The head block is centrallyV apertured to provide a passageway 11,within which a cylindrical journal block 12 is looselyjengaged. Saidjournal block is centrally apertured toreceive a spindle 13, which atits lower end is provided with asquared. sectionv 14 adapted to receivethe toothed can rotating wheel 15, being held thereto by means of avretaining` screw 16 and lock washer 17. The upper end 18 of thespindleis provided with flattened sides and is provided with a trans-The verse aperture 19 adj acent'its upper end. A

crank arm 21, having a knob or handle 22 at one end and provided withabifurcated cam head 23 at its opposite end, is secured to the upperk endof said standard bymeans of a pin 24. i y

Between the top surface of the head block and the bifurcated cam 23 acutter supporting plate or table 25, centrally apertured to fit oversaid spindle, is positioned. The cen` tral under side of said plate isadapted to bear against a coil spring 26, the lower end of which restsupon a washer 27 of a size somewhat larger than the diameter of thejournal block. The plate 25 is provided at diametrically opposite pointswith openings 31, 32, one serving as the point of support for the cuttermechanism and the otherbeing adapted to receive the screw threaded endof a cam for said plunger bar. The means for supporting the cuttercomprises a screw stud 35 engaged through the opening 31 and held firmlytherein by means of a lock nut 36. The lower end of said screw stud isadapted to be engaged by a screw threadedl cylindrical collar 37 andheld in any desired position of adjustment by means of a lock nut 38.The lower end of the stud projects only a short desired position ofadjustment.

; said collar and'having its free end provided n with an upwardlybeveled face 44.

The head block is formed with a pair of verticalropeni'ngs 45, 46 onopposite sides of the central'opening andV parallel thereto to receiverespectively the cutter supporting members and the plunger bar. Theopening 45 is preferably a cylindrical opening of a diameter suitable toslidingly receive the cutter supporting collar 37, Aand at its lower endconnects with an opening 47 of reduced' V diameter, through which thelower end of the cutter is adapted to be'projected. The

` passageways within which the set screw 42V vr.and the guide pin 43Aare received, respecopening 45 is provided withv diametrically oppositevertical slots V48, 49, which afford tively.

rThe opening 46,A within which the plunger vbar is adapted to bereceived, communicates at its lower end with a radially disposedcylindrical opening 51 formed adjacent the lower end of the headv block.Within said opening Vapslidable cylindricalcam block 52 is engaged, saidblock having a projecting Vstud 53 'formed centrally of its head portionand having an inclined'cam face 54 at its base.V A cylindrical plug 55is adapted 'to close the radial cylindrical opening 51.

The journal block 12, in addition to having the axial passageway forminga bearing for the spindle 13, is provided upon one side with a verticalslot or groove 56 of a size suitable Ato receive the 4projecting beveledend of the guide pin 43, and at a point slightly below its mid-length isformed with a radial opening 57 connecting with said vertical groove 56in a position to be engaged by the beveled end of the guide pin whensaid cutter is projected in operative position below the head block.lSaid 'journal block is provided with a second radial opening 58 upon theopposite ,side from the opening 57 and at a-point slightly below thesame, which is of a sizel in connection with the description of itsconstruction.

TWhen the proper adjustment of the plunger bar is secured the depressionof the cam plate, through the actionv of the cam head of the crank arm,will serve to force the cutter downwardly, and-as thejhead of the guidepin rides into the transverse opening 57 the beveled end of the plungerbar will contact with the cam face ofthe plunger 52 and force thespindle and the can rotating gear toward the inner side of the cutter.rI`hus, when a can is 'placed inrposition beneath the head block vwithits upper sideV- portion bearing against the toothed can rotating wheel,and the crank arm is lowered by means of the knob 22 toa substantiallyhorizontal position, the cutter `will be forced through the top of thecan and the lower endV ofthe spindle will be moved toward said cutter soasY to firmly grip the'adjacent portion of the cam between the side ofthe cutter blade and said can-rotating wheel. VRotation of the crank armthen causes the can to be rotated against the cutter and the knife edgeof the cutter opens the top `sheet of the can adjacent the rim, bendingthe vmetalbackv against the side wall of the can and permitting fullaccess to the contents lof the can as the opening is carried to thedesired extent. The head block may be readily adjustedfto accommodatecansof any type by merely loosening the set screw 5 and readj Listingthe height of the standard accordingly.

Other modes of applying the principle o my inventionmay beemployedinsteadof the one explained, change being made as re-V gards themechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. y

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my inventionl 1. A can-opening device comprising a sup-- port, a vertical spindlerotatably mounted in said support, a toothed wheel carried by the lowerend of said spindle, a crank handle pivotedfto the upper end of saidspindle for rotating the'same, a cutterreciprocably as-A sociated withsaid support,-means on saidV crank handle for moving said cutter down-Ymoved toward'eachv other before said cutter Cil has reached its limitof downward motion, and cam means for moving said wheel toward saidcutter.

2. A can-opening device comprising a support, a vertical spindlerotatably mounted in said support, a toothed wheel carried by the lowerend of said spindle, a crank arm pivotally secured to the upper end ofsaid spindle for rotating said toothed wheel, a cam block operativelyassociated with said spindle, a plate associated with said support andmovable toward and away from same, a cutter and cam member carried bysaid plate, a combined cam and crank handle for moving said plate towardsaid support to engage the cutter with the top of the can and movingsaid cam bar against said cam block to force said spindle toward saidcutter and said toothed wheel into clamping engagement with the sidewall of the can.

Signed by me, this 11th day of February,

DAVID P. SAVVYER.

